85 environmental cases against factories withdrawn

Sepa withdraws cases against 85 factories as it is unsatisfied with the investigation process.

KARACHI: The Sindh Environmental Protection Agency (Sepa) has withdrawn cases against 85 factories as it was unsatisfied with the investigation process.

The special prosecutor of Sepa, Maroof Ahmad, informed the environmental tribunal that the agency feels that the law was not upheld during the investigation of these cases. If the cases are presented in their current form then it would be a waste of time and resources, he added.

According to the Pakistan Environment Protection Act (Pepa) 1997, the director-general of Sepa is entitled to withdraw cases at any point during proceedings if he is unsatisfied with the investigation process, said Ahmad.

“As a legal adviser, I also agree that even fundamental environmental laws were not followed during the investigations,” he added.

The tribunal, comprising district and sessions judge Ashraf Jahan and member legal Abdul Karim Memon, asked the prosecutor-general to explain why Sepa decided to withdraw these cases on its own this time when it used to approach the tribunal on previous occasions. Ahmad replied by saying that if they made a mistake the first time, then they should not repeat it. He insisted that the cases are being withdrawn to save time and resources. The cases belong to industries in Karachi, Hyderabad, Kotri and other areas of Sindh.

The factories include Javedan Cement, Ghori Cement, Thatta Cement, Zeal Pak Cement, Hasni Fabrics, Akhtar Textile, Anas Oil Industries, Madina Textile, Eastern Textile, Golden Oil Product, Automobile Private Limited, World Petroleum,  MS Asal Paper Mills, Hijaz Ceramics, International Textile, Alliance Engineering, Denim International, Motex International, Akbar Textile Mill, Adam Weaving Mill, Adamjee Diesel, Adamjee Enterprise, Adnan Power Private Limited, Ahbab Corporation, Engro Processor, Wali Textile Mill, Ahmad Fabrics, Ahmad Farooq Fabrics, Ahmad Food, Ahmad Processing, AK Textile Mill, Alamgir Ryan Mill, alAhmad Silk Mill, Haseeb Textile Mill, Asif Textile Mill, Asif Textile Mill, alBurhan Metal, alNoor Private Limited, alRazzaq Textile, Almas Industries, Ameen Denim, Aluminium Packages Private Limited, Hyderi Textile, M Son Textile, Bari Textile, alBarka Textile, Babar Metal Industries, Central Dying and Printing Mill, Central Mechanical Engineering, Kathri Chemical and other pharmaceutical companies.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 5^th, 2010.